South Dakota couple trapped in home for 15 days following winter storm

ANTELOPE, S.D. (KELO) — On December 12, OJ and Barb Semans returned to their house not understanding that they wouldn’t have the possibility to depart once more for a number of weeks.

Two weeks of blizzards, ice storms, and below-zero temperatures have swept throughout South Dakota since early December, and whereas many of the state has begun snow removing, individuals on the Rosebud Reservation are nonetheless in determined want of assist from state and federal companies.

For the final 15 days, households just like the Semans have been trapped inside their houses, counting on dwindling meals and propane and coping with the specter of frozen pipes.

“Nicely, me and my spouse been on this home for 15 days and she or he hasn’t killed me but. So, we’re doing good,” Semans joked to Nexstar’s KELO over the telephone on Tuesday from his Rosebud house. The Rosebud Reservation is positioned roughly 100 miles south of Pierre alongside the Nebraska border. “Yeah, it’s one thing completely different that’s by no means occurred in my lifetime. You understand, to really be snowed in, not going to the shop. I imply, not going to the fuel station, not going up city, not checking the mail, simply right here snowed in.”

Pictures courtesy OJ Semans

Semans stated that at the beginning, the snow fell, making the gravel street resulting in the home impassable. Then, when temperatures dropped to 50 under, Semans stated the snow appeared to show into cement with 20-foot drifts surrounding their house.

“You can stroll on high of it virtually with out leaving a footprint. That’s how arduous it acquired,” Semans described.

One week into the storm, Semans stated the propane tank ran out and their son needed to stroll an hour by means of the bitter storm to convey them extra propane.

“We’ve been fortunate. Our electrical energy solely went out for just a few hours and got here again on. So , we’ve got our meals and provisions and stuff. We begin the automobile up on daily basis to make it possible for if we ever get out, it’ll begin,” Semans stated.

Not all households on Rosebud have been in a position to entry propane, although. Semans stated that previous to the storm, many residents, together with his son, had positioned orders to top off on propane however the storm and impassable roads have prevented orders from reaching those that want it, together with Semans’ son.

The couple additionally discovered themselves with out water entry for a while when the pipes froze because of the chilly however, fortunately, that they had an out of doors spigot to assist them.

“I needed to begin, digging round in other places and I had a normal space. And so, I needed to dig some steps within the snow financial institution after which begin skimming the highest of it. And I lastly discovered it. So, we had been ready to make use of our spigot to have water inside the home till final evening at midnight [when our] water got here again on,” Semans stated.

Semans has spent many of the previous two weeks working to get help from the Federal Emergency Upkeep Company (FEMA).

“I seek the advice of for the tribes, so I’ve been working forwards and backwards with FEMA emails and getting the paperwork prepared. Attempting to get the presidential declaration despatched to the president to get some assist down right here,” Semans stated.

To date, no emergency declaration has been authorized for South Dakota or the Rosebud Reservation, information from FEMA present. When requested final week in regards to the potential of an emergency declaration, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Emergency Supervisor Robert Oliver appeared unsure, saying, “They’re all conscious of it.”

Governor Kristi Noem introduced late final week that the South Dakota Nationwide Guard would start eradicating snow on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations at the side of the state’s division of public security and division of transportation.

Whereas Semans and his spouse have been in a position to survive 15 days with a inventory of provides, there isn’t sufficient to final for much longer, he stated. And for different individuals on the reservation, assistance is essential.

“Monday evening, we misplaced one other particular person who was caught in White River, lived out within the nation, kinda like I do. It took them just a few hours to open the roads and get to his home. By the point they acquired there he was sick, they loaded him up and on the best way again, he handed away,” Semans stated.

Semans estimates that between seven and 10 individuals have died over the previous few weeks.

“We nonetheless have individuals which might be in dire straits and should be rescued,” Semans stated.

A scarcity of kit has made the aftermath of the storm troublesome to navigate, however the arrival of the Nationwide Guard has helped with eradicating automobiles and dealing on the roads, he added.

“I’m actually happy with the tribe and our EPP staff which were working, , 24/7. You understand, a few of them, it takes three hours to get 1 / 4 mile, as a result of that snow is so arduous. So, however they’re doing it as a result of it’s their family that they’re attempting to get out,” Semans stated.

Semans stated that the sense of neighborhood has been sturdy as a result of irrespective of the place you might be in that space, “It’s all household.”

He added: “We’re resilient. We’ll preserve doing what we’re doing.”